Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Yankees Explore a Trade to Send Johnson Home — Randy Johnson is 43 and coming off back surgery and two uneven seasons in New York. He does not have much time left to add to his legacy, and if he does, he may not end up doing it as a Yankee. That is because the Yankees appear open …
Discussion:
Giants Cove, Mike's Mets, Pride of the Yankees, Always Amazin', MetsBlog.com and Ben Maller's Sports …
RELATED:
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Enough Teasing — So on Christmas, I had enough information to post that something was close. But first, let's talk about the continuing Randy Johnson rumors. Yes, there's a possibility that he's headed out of New York and due to his no-trade clause, the only location he'd approve a deal to would be Arizona or Southern California.
NY Daily News:
Yanks taking Randy offers — Padres make best pitch yet — Randy Johnson's rocky stay in New York may be ending after two seasons. — The Yankees are talking to several clubs about possibly trading Johnson and are inclined to make a deal, according to baseball officials.
Discussion:
Purple Row, True Blue LA, Baseball Musings, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Trade Rumors and YanksBlog.com
Joseph A. Reaves / Arizona Republic:Unit back to Arizona? Just do it — Makes perfect sense.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Associated Press:
Angels will be Hillenbrand's fifth team since '01 — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Free agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Tuesday to a $6.5 million, one-year contract. — Hillenbrand, who split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, gets $6 million next year …
Discussion:
Off the Facade
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Angels sign Hillenbrand to one-year deal — Free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand has agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, FOXSports.com has learned. — The New York Yankees had shown interest in Hillenbrand, but are now believed to be turning …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Chris Foster / Los Angeles Times:
Angels sign Hillenbrand to one-year deal — Angels add an extra bat after Rivera breaks his leg — The Angels moved quickly to plug an unexpected hole in their lineup by signing Shea Hillenbrand to a one-year contract with a team option for 2008. — The move was made after outfielder …
Ken Peters / Associated Press:
Hillenbrand agrees to $6.5 million deal with Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels didn't waste much time finding another hitter after Juan Rivera broke his left leg playing winter ball in Venezuela. — The Angels agreed with free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand on a $6.5 million …
Discussion:
Chronicles of the Lads
Stan Grossfeld / Boston Globe:
Heartfelt gesture — Ortiz helps establish cardiac unit for children in Dominican Republic — SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic — Last January, David Ortiz was preparing for the 2006 baseball season in his hometown of Santo Domingo. Unlike previous seasons …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Tribe close to deal with Foulke — Reliever's agent says contract could be finalized this week — CLEVELAND — The Indians are closing in on another closing candidate. — The club is on the verge of signing free-agent right-hander Keith Foulke to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2008 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Dreamseats can become a reality — Baseball fans can catch all of the action in comfort, style — The best seat in Major League Baseball history might have been immediately behind home plate when Babe Ruth was calling his shot at Wrigley Field at the 1932 World Series.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Dallas Morning News:
Rangers couldn't wait for help — Lack of homegrown pitching talent forced team to move Danks — There are Rangers fans out there who are still wandering through the house, picking up rivers of ribbon, pieces of paper and tendrils of tinsel in a daze. — Yes, the gift-giving frenzy can leave a person in that zombie-like state.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Gossage hopes this is his year — Former flamethrower seeks Hall induction as pioneering closer — Rich Gossage is hoping that his eighth year on the Hall of Fame ballot will be sprinkled with some magic. Each year since the Baseball Writers Association of America has had the opportunity …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Davis on Hall ballot for first time — Injuries the only thing that slowed speedy outfielder — CINCINNATI — Eric Davis never gave up on a play, and he refused to give in on his playing career when his body told him to do so. — This is a man who lacerated a kidney trying to make a catch.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Alex Carnevale / Baseball Prospectus:
The Week In Quotes — December 19-26 … —MLB commissioner Bud Selig, recipient of Street and Smith's award for Executive of the Year. … —Selig, on the World Baseball Classic. (Jack O'Connell, MLB.com) … —Abraham Madkour, executive editor of both SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.
RELATED:
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Season begins and ends with optimism — Bucs' big ideas for '06 dashed early, but progress made late — The Pittsburgh Pirates ran the gamut of emotions in 2006, from the genuine optimism that they were on the verge of snapping their long streak of losing seasons, to the bitter disappointment …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
2006 Mets put together an Amazin' run — Team gets off to hot start, but injuries, Cards end Series hopes — Injuries are part of every season for every team. For the 2006 Mets, they were a bigger part. In February, the team's monogram began to morph — from NYM to MRI …
